Noble Detective Work

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 5, 1907

“Noble Detective Work”

In the Review two weeks ago an account was given of the arrest and trial of Brother Mulholland, at Mt. Rainier, a suburb of Washington, D. C., under the Maryland Sunday law. Learning of this, the Mt. Rainier Weekly Review commented on the matter as follows:—

“Our Zealous Constables”

“We particularly admire a zealous and faithful public officer so long as his zeal is tempered with wisdom, and he has the good sense to strictly enforce those laws which are of primary importance to the peace, good order, and moral health of the community. But when the zeal of our constables produces such a state of official fermentation that they resurrect some old law on the statute-books and begin its enforcement to the neglect of others vastly more important, it gives us the shudders. Our remarks are due to our reflections over the course of some of our constables in recent cases.”

“If, for instance, a new business happens to locate in the community, our zealous sleuths light on it to discover if the proprietor has a license, quicker than hungry flies dash to fresh fly-paper. If a new business opens in the community, and you descry a line of men extending from the door to the middle of the street, don’t be fooled with the idea that the proprietor is doing a land-office business. Nothing of the sort! It is merely our faithful constables waiting to inquire, one by one, and inspect the new license.”

“Last week our terrible sleuths captured an offender red-handed in crime. It was none the less than a Seventh-day Adventist who happened to be engaged in some odd-and-ends Sunday work. Off before Judge Stickell he was dragged, and promptly fined five dollars and costs. Such noble detective work should certainly beget a reward of tin medals.”

“Down on the pike, it is alleged, liquor is sold on Sunday as freely as on any day in the week. Card and crap playing for money, it is said, is indulged in on the baseball grounds on Sunday. Rowdies infest the electric car station at Mt. Rainier every night in the week, Sunday included, but they are not disturbed.”

“The noble minions of the law are too busily engaged in the extremely important work of inspecting licenses, and bagging those unfortunate mortals who engage in a little reprehensible Sunday work.” W. A. C.